JD Program

Applying to Western New England University School of Law is simple and free. Click here to apply.

When to Apply

When to Apply

Apply now for fall 2019. Our application is currently available online through LSAC. The Admissions Committee typically begins admitting applicants by November and completes the majority of its work by April. The opportunity for gaining admission may be reduced if an application is completed after March 15. All completed applications are carefully reviewed in their entirety to determine whether the applicant possesses the academic preparation and motivation to successfully complete a rigorous law school curriculum. Committee members attempt to gauge each applicant's prior academic performance, expected performance, and writing skills. While LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA are important factors, the Admissions Committee also considers personal statements, letters of recommendation, and supplemental materials.

It is recommended that applicants apply in the fall preceding the year they wish to enroll. Typically, an applicant can expect a decision on their application within 4 weeks of their application being complete or from the time the Committee begins its review work, whichever is later.

How to Apply

Materials Required for Admission Consideration

Application and Fee Our application for fall 2019 is currently available online throughLSAC.Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Electronic Application: CAS registrants may access our electronic application through the CAS service. CAS Electronic Applications incorporate a common information form and flow-as-you-go features that allow users to answer common law school application questions to multiple law schools. Please check the Law School Admissions Council's website at www.lsac.org to find out more about this product. There is currently no fee charged by Western New England University School of Law to apply.If you are unable to apply electronically and wish to access a paper application, please contact our Admissions Office at 413-782-1406.

Fee Waiver: Details about obtaining an LSAT or CAS fee waiver are included in the LSAT/CAS Registration and Information Book or at www.lsac.org.

LSAT, CAS and Prior Academic Work It is strongly suggested that you take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) by February of the year in which you wish to enroll. Your chances of admission may be reduced by taking the June test. Please contact the Admissions Office if you have questions or concerns about when to take the LSAT. You will also need to register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).

For information on the LSAT and CAS, please contact:

Law School Admission Council Box 2000 Newtown, PA 18940-0998 215-968-1001www.lsac.org

Letters of Recommendation All applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. The Admissions Committee strongly prefers letters that discuss your intellectual attributes, ability to reason, and ability to write clearly and persuasively. Letters that describe these characteristics in general terms are much less valuable than those that cite specific examples of your strengths. The most persuasive letters often come from faculty members who are familiar with your academic abilities. If you graduated from college some years ago, you should include a letter from an employer or coworker to provide insights into these areas. Unless they are quite familiar with your professional or academic abilities, recommendations from family, friends, or politicians are not helpful.

For your convenience, two options exist for the submission of letters of recommendation. You may download and complete our 2019 Cover Sheetwhich you should then provide to those writing recommendations on your behalf. They, in turn, can send us their letters of recommendation attached to the required cover sheet. You may also elect to utilize LSAC Credential Assembly Service’s letter of recommendation service, as detailed in the LSAT and CAS Registration and Information Book. If you use this option, provide each of those submitting recommendations with the form found in the CAS registration materials.

Personal StatementEach applicant must submit a personal statement. The Admissions Committee does not suggest a topic for the personal statement. The faculty has asked the Admissions Committee to give special consideration to the experiences of those who have been unable to realize their full potential as students, due to economic or cultural barriers, prejudice, or a physical handicap. The Admissions Committee encourages you to discuss any obstacles you have overcome in your pursuit of higher education, either in your personal statement or in a supplemental statement.

Application Procedure for Transfer and Visiting Students

Application Procedure for Transfer and Visiting Students

Western New England University School of Law will evaluate transfer applications from a student who is in good academic standing at an ABA or state-accredited law school and who has typically completed one full year of law study. Transfer and visiting student applications are accepted for spring semester admission.

Transfer and Visiting applicants must submit to the Admissions Office:

Current application

Personal statement

Letter of Good Standing from the Dean of the law school where you are currently attending

Résumé

LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report

Official transcript from all law schools attended

If you wish to attend as a visiting student, written permission is also required from the Dean of your law school stating that credit will be given for courses taken at Western New England University School of Law.

The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will evaluate and determine the number of credits accepted from another law school. No more than 32 academic credits will be accepted for transfer from an ABA-approved law school and no more than 29 academic credits will be accepted for transfer from a state-accredited law school. If students are granted transfer credits from another law school, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will inform students in their letter of acceptance. Transfer credits are determined on a case-by-case basis. Typically, criteria for transfer credit consideration includes, but is not limited to, the course grade, the grading criteria at the law school attended, the course description, the number of course hours attempted and earned, and the comparable courses taught at Western New England University School of Law.

Transfer applicants are eligible for scholarships and will be automatically considered on a case-by-case basis during the application review process.

All materials, with the exception of law school transcripts containing spring semester grades, must be received by July 1. Please contact the Admissions office if you have any questions.

Admission Contingent Upon Truthfulness

Admission Contingent Upon Truthfulness

The School of Law’s decision to admit an applicant is contingent upon the truthfulness of the information contained in his or her application, including material submitted on the applicant’s behalf. Discovery of false information subsequent to admission is grounds for immediate dismissal at any point in the applicant’s course of study. Such dismissal shall result in forfeiture of all charges paid and academic credits earned. Applicants and students are subject to the provisions of the Academic Standards and the Student Honor Code, available on request.

Bar Admissions Requirements

Bar Admissions Requirements

There are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar. Prior to matriculation, applicants should contact the Board of Bar Examiners of the state(s) in which they might practice to determine those requirements. Each state has a bar admissions office, such as the Board of Bar Examiners in Massachusetts, the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee in Connecticut and the Board of Law Examiners in New York. The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides the address and website of each state's bar admissions office. You should consult the bar admission office in the jurisdiction in which you intend to apply for admission as to the specific forms and requirements for that particular jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction has specific requirements that are strictly enforced, and the application process requires careful attention to all requirements, forms and deadlines.